Cliff Lee is joining his fourth team in 12 months and the Rangers are hoping he can lead them to the playoffs for the first time in 11 years. The Rangers pried Lee away from the Mariners and multiple suitors today in a blockbuster deal that makes the 50-35 Rangers clear favorites to win the AL West.

“Maybe [Buster] Posey would get to us if not Beckham, and if not either one of them, [Justin] Smoak would be there,” Laumann said. “[This year], I have no idea at 13.”

… “The problem with this year’s Draft is that the top is pretty thin,” Laumann said. “You look at those top three or four guys, and it opens wide up from there.”

… One thing is certain: The White Sox will not be drafting by need. They will be looking for a player who can make the quickest impact at the big league level.

… “We’ve tried to focus on middle infielders because we’ve not done a good job internationally in that area,” Laumann said. “If you look at the big leagues or even the Minors, a great percentage [of middle infielders] are from Latin America. We are not getting them from that influx, so we have tried to find them domestically. But quite honestly, there are not many domestic shortstops [in the Draft].”Laumann pointed out how the strength in this year’s Draft is college pitching depth, so the White Sox could target that spot at 13. With the depth being a strength, though, and the White Sox having four picks in the first 115, they could go a different direction at 13 and load up on pitchers afterward.

Even if the White Sox seem deep at certain positions, such as third base or in the outfield, they won’t necessarily shy away from a player who anchors that same spot — even with their top pick.

“Back in the ’90s, we thought we had five or six catching prospects,” Laumann said. “Two proved they couldn’t play, two got hurt and one got traded. With the way baseball is, you can’t think you are deep enough at any one spot where you don’t need additional help.”